Locations

Wildflowers in Roding Lane South Allotments

One of Wanstead Wildlife's aims is to present a record of the area's wildlife. We often think of wildlife as being out there "in the country" or (perhaps, increasingly, in a nature reserve somewhere), but it is everywhere, including our gardens, our streets and indeed in our allotments.

Roger Snook and David Wright are local wildlife photographers, and have some stunning close-up photographs of wildlife in and around East London, and further afield. They also have an allotment in Roding Lane South - which I deem to be within Wanstead Wildlife's catchment area - and Roger spent a few days in mid-August 2014 finding and photographing wildflowers - or at least flowers that have occured spontaneously in the allotment grounds. The photographic results of these few days in August can be seen on a page in their 'East London Nature' website - and is available by clicking here.

The Green Man roundabout and underpass

The Green Man roundabout is a major road interchange between local routes in the Leytonstone/Wanstead area and the A12 trunk road.

In relation to other wildlife areas covered by Wanstead Wildlife, it lies between Bush Wood, which is to the south and east, and Leyton Flats to the north-west. When the roundabout was created in its present form to access the new A12 link road between Blackwall Tunnel and the Redbridge roundabout, care was taken to provide easy access for pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders between those parts of Epping Forest to which the road system would otherwise have proved to be a major obstacle. As such, a high and wide series of underpasses and pedestrian, cycle and horse paths were provided, together with landscaping either side of the roundabout and within the central section.

The landscaping was carried out appropriately for what effectively is part of Epping Forest and was seeded in 1999. A meadow-like environment was created which really is a flowery and attractive place for people and creatures alike.

The list of plants below was mostly collected subsequent to a survey undertaken by myself and Kathy Hartnett on 13th June 2012. Some of the plants were actually found on part of Bush Wood North, insofar as the recording areas in "Wanstead Wildlife" is concerned, but very close to the roundabout and its approach paths. On an area of disturbed ground very close to the pavement of particular interest was a small, low plant with tiny pink-ish flowers hardly opened, and fleshy, succulent leaves. After a bit of investigation I interpreted it as Greater Sea-spurreySpergularia media (pic), probably making use of the salt that is used on icy roads to emulate its more usual sea-side habitat this far inland.

So as to distinguish between Bush Wood North and the underpass system of the roundabout, it was decided to use the surfaced cycle and pedestrian path that crosses from near the pedestrian crossing on Bush Road and continues towards Wanstead parallel to the link road which the roundabout serves, as the boundary. Similarly, at the northern end of the underpass system, the surfaced track there serves to readily distinguish between the underpass system and Leyton Flats. Between these, the system can be conveniently divided into three sections: the Green Man section adjacent to Bush Wood (North), the Central Section which is that section which forms the centre of the roundabout (although at a lower level than the roads) and the Leyton Flats area, which of course is adjacent to Leyton Flats. In the list that follows, the plants that have been found in each section are mentioned.

The higher-level road-system part of the roundabout does have grass-and vegetation edges, but is busy and not conducive to pedestrian investigation. However, a readily observable planting of Chusan Palm trees Trachycarpus fortuneimay be seen - part of a pre-Olympic tidy-up. Weird and totally out of place here, although they are the only species of palm that is hardy throughout the British Isles. I still wonder how long they will last?

On a return visit on 15th June perhaps the nicest new find were two stems of Bee Orchid (pic), growing right near to the Green Man roundabout underpass on the Bush Wood section. On the approach path to the central part of the underpass system - near theTesco's approach road and right by the brickwork of the underpass - were a few plants of Woad Isatis tinctoria (pic), not before recorded in this area. In the section of the underpass nearest Leyton Flats, two flowers of Corncockle were found (pic).

Contents - Places

Clicking on the numbered index will generally take you to an overview or reference to that entry. For specific items - such as photographs, maps, lists or overviews of species to be found - click on the associated reference.